'Can't it wait until after the England match is finished?' Alleged murderer leaves dead body lying in his flat for days

David Crockett (pictured) was found in Martin Campbell's flat in June. He died through injuries that 'were caused by very forceful punching or kicking or stamping or possibly the use of blunt weapon', said the prosecution

An alleged killer told a friend not to contact police about a dead body in his flat until England's opening match in the World Cup was over.

Martin Campbell is said to have brutally attacked his friend David Crockett, 64, and left him to die in his kitchen.

Two days later, on June 12 when England faced America in the World Cup, a heroin addict asked if she could use Mr Campbell's flat to shoot up in. It was when she entered that the battered body of Mr Crockett was found.

When the women had asked Mr Campbell, 47, whether she could enter,
he allegedly replied: 'Yeah, as long as you don't mind there being a
dead body there.'

Having seen the body, she then informed a friend who went into the
flat and told Mr Campbell - who, along with the deceased, had a drink
problem - he was going to call the emergency services.

A jury at Teesside Crown Court was told on Monday that unemployed Mr
Campbell asked the visitor: 'Can't it wait until after the England match
is finished?'

When police arrived at the flat in Redcar, near Middlesbrough, Mr Campbell claimed he had only just realised Mr Crockett was not breathing and insisted that he had gone for help.

Campbell wanted to watch England's World Cup game against America before calling the police about the body of his dead friend

Mr Crockett, from Eston, Middlesbrough, was described as a 'a polite, old man' and had visited Mr Campbell on June 7.

He suffered multiple and severe injuries, including 12 rib fractures and facial injuries which led to fatal brain damage.

Neighbours told detectives they heard arguing in the flat, loud thuds and Mr Campbell threatening to stamp on his friend and slit his throat.

He allegedly said: 'I'll f***ing kill you. Get the f*** out of my house. I'll dance on your head if you don't leave.'

The trial, at Teesside Crown Court, is expected to last three weeks. Mr Campbell is pleading not guilty to murdering the 64-year-old

One woman saw Mr Crockett trying to leave the flat, but he was grabbed by the defendant.

Andrew Robertson QC, prosecuting, said: 'She saw the defendant dragging him back up to the flat.

'She then heard more shouts of "I'm not going to leave you alone. I'll beat you to f***ing death."

'One thing Marton Campbell and David Crockett had in common was they were both alcoholics. In addition the defendant had a problem with drugs.'

The post-mortem revealed that Mr Crockett died through injuries that 'were caused by very forceful punching or kicking or stamping or possibly the use of blunt weapon', said the prosecution.

Mr Campbell had continued to come up a series of 'pathetic stories' in his interviews in an effort to 'save his own skin', according to Mr Robertson.

The suspect initially claimed in a police interview that Mr Crockett, who had been staying with him throughout the week, must have arrived with the devastating injuries he suffered.

He then suggested someone must have sneaked into the flat complex while he was out and attacked Mr Campbell.

Mr Robertson said CCTV footage did not show an intruder and added that the building was secured by a buzzer system and multiple locks.

'The evidence will show you that there can be no doubt that this defendant murdered Mr Crockett during a prolonged attack,' he told the jury.

'The defendant showed a complete lack of concern as to what he had done right up to the point where the police arrived.

'Thereafter in an effort to save his own skin, he resorted to a series of pathetic lies which do not bear scrutiny in the face of the evidence.'

Mr Campbell denies murder and the trial is expected to last three weeks.